“Mandarin Oranges Part 2,” by Little Simz … (Rap / Experimental – Music to Your Ears–7)

It's an emergency. This human life is absurd to me.

Little Simz – “Mandarin Oranges Part 2”

“Mandarin Oranges Part 2” (2014)

This song is from the debut EP of the young English rapper Little Simz. It has been described as “an honest journey into her world, life and growth.” 

Rythmic and Pensive 

Generally speaking, I have no interest in rap, and rarely listen to it. But I’ll gladly listen to Little Simz, and, in fact, I’ve listened to “Mandarin Oranges Part 2”  over and over again. And, more than a few times, I’ve watched the great vid of her moving and grooving through the quiet streets.   

The music is rhythmic and peaceful. Little Simz is literate and expressive. Her lyrics are perceptive and pensive, even philosophical and profound. But never pretentious. 

Little Simz 

Little Simz was born in 1994, in London, England. (real name – Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo) During her teens, she recorded several mixtapes and EPs.  

In 2014, she released “Mandarin Oranges Part 2.”  When her debut album was released the following year, it entered the UK R&B Albums Chart at Number 20. Since then, she has released 2 more albums, to critical acclaim. 

Experiments in Truth 

Little Simz has been called “a true rapper’s rapper.”  She herself refers to her music as “rap and experimental.”      _{(Image source)}

note – As hinted in the title, apparently there is a Part 1 to this song.

While the YouTube video of “Mandarin Oranges Part 2”  was published on April 13, 2014, there’s a slightly different version entitled simply “Mandarin Oranges.”  It was released about 3 months earlier, on January 5, 2014. (Link below)  

Previous version – (released January 5, 2014)
     "Mandarin Oranges”  (Part 1, maybe)  
          _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

I ain't even crossed paths with the world yet
They ain't even seen Little Simz through the good and the worst tests
Why would I wanna fly away from a place called home, what a Bird's Nest
Going through a maze, better be amazed when they say who's second and I'm first, yes

All I wanna see is skies and a blue sea
Walking on the beach bare feet with a drink poured out like a true g
Humbled internally, Better bill suttin
Burn it up to the 3rd degree
It's an emergency
This human life is absurd to me
I can say this gold energy ensures
That's these remedies will enforce
Give another life back to that corpse
Shit, these melodies are my thoughts
Show me who my enemies are my lord
I just wanna bless them even more
Show them we are one and I'm more than me, so we need find the pure unity within us

I see kaleidoscopes
The vision isn't dead, help me find a pulse
And redesign the hope
Only speak the truth, redefine the false
And see the light evolve
Cause all we talk about is designer clothes
We need to find the hope
And live in space, we need to leave the skies alone

What you know about trying to follow a dream at 9?
Lil kiddie with ambition, now I'm grown and clever enough to read the signs
But I was young and on a mission, now I'm 20 and I can't believe the time
Where did it go to?
Where did I grow to? When other rappers needed height
Always had a buzz, I never needed hype

All I ever wanted was to be free to fly
All the school taught me was how to read and write
Tryna flip a penny to a pound in this real cold town, if only I saw between the lines
Money doesn't come when you believe a lie

Tryna find a star, but I thought I'd be the light, show
Speaking of show, I might have to go, oh
Do whatever it takes to blow, no
Even if evil wanted your soul, no

Stop right there, ima make it clear
See, I'm the only human body I fear
Said I'll be gone in a month, delaying it to a year
It's either you're with me and riding through my career
Or your steady waiting for me to disappear
Pick which one, choose which one
Lemme know now
Before I know whether to hold you down or not

Talk to me, tell me mummy, are you proud or what
See, you raised me up from a flower pot
Now your flower growing and you can stand and watch
Its amazing that feeling, ain't it

Try and take it in year, I know its crazy
I ain't gonna lie, I been thinking ‘bout my dad lately
Tryna figure out if he knew I was killin’ it
Would he of been part of my life for the benefits

I see kaleidoscopes
The vision isn't dead, help me find a pulse
And redesign the hope
Only speak the truth, redefine the false
And see the light evolve
Cause all we talk about is designer clothes
We need to find the hope

And live in space, we need to leave the skies alone   _{(Image source)}
Lyrics by Little Simz, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – ConversationsAboutHer.net
Reference – nique.net

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"